I was just reading a book preview on Amazon, and she spoke of holding a hook like a pen or like a violin bow. I've never heard that analogy before. She said either way is fine. I agree.

I hold mine like a bow.

http://yoursandi.blogspot.com

I have been told that I hold mine like a shovel. Not real sure what they meant by that, but I'm pretty sure it was not meant as a compliment.

I hold my hook in such a way that it works for me and not against me.

Guess there are lots of us with the bow hold!

That is a great analogy about the violin...I think its more like a pencil. I hold onto the flat part of the hook with my middle finger and thumb. my index finger is on top, close to the poiont. Helps me hold on when I have multiple loops on the hook.

I hold mine like a knife.  Like a table knife and I was going to cut something on my plate.  But my mom and my grandmother both hold theirs like a pencil. And, my grandmother is a lefty.  I can't imagine it would make one bit of difference to the yarn or the finished product. Go with what feels right in your hand.

Susan Testa
Alexandria, VA

i saw the pencil hold once and tried to duplicate it without much success. i'm like susan, i hold mine like a knife, but most of the hook manipulation is done with my second and third fingers. my index is just there in case i need to hold a loop.

it's weird... i crochet so fast now that it's hard for me to deconstruct the motions and movements.

red meat isn't bad for you... fuzzy blue-green meat is bad for you.

I hold mine from the top as if I were holding a pot handle. I have heard that the other way of holding it, such as if you were holding a pen to write, in the long run irritates the wrist and these crocheters can develop carpal tunnel problems.

I hold mine with my hand on the top. I once read a book that declared it unholy to hold your hook like that...you should hold your hand underneath it. Not wanting to burn in the fires of hell, I tried and tried...it's impossible for me to crochet like that!!!! Do what feels comfortable, I say!

I hold mine like a knife. I never knew you could hold it like a violin bow, I used to play, and it seems like it'd be a very akward position. It's way to hard for me to try and hold it like a pencil.

This is my first post and I love this question and all the answers. It's something I never thought of. I hold mine like a pencil. I'll have to pay more attention when I come in contact with another crocheter. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen very often. I'm so glad I found this sight!

Not like I hold my pen and not like you hold a violin bow (I made my friend Arthur play imaginary violin with a crochet hook).

I hold it like I should hold a pen (my way of holding a pen is apparently odd) but near the wrong end of the hook. The tips of my fingers are just on the flat bit in the middle of my hook.

I hold my hook so my hand is on top of the hook. I get flat spots on my thumb and middle finger from pinching the flat part of the hook. My index finger controls the top of the hook and the yarn. I read somewhere that ladies always should hold the hook like a pencil because your hands are more pleasing to look at while you work this way. A big old rasberry to that, I think it is more comfortable the way I do it, and I had also heard about carpal tunnel resulting from the pencil hold. I am amused by toymaker's comment about the book she read that says it is unholy to hold it like I do! These sound like old notions, totally out of step with the newly fueled crochet revolution. Viva Crochet!!

mad for crochet!

I hold mine with my hand on top...like holding a pot I guess. But I use my right hand to hold the hook, even though I'm left handed, and my left hand does all the yarn winding/hook manipulating/article moving stuff whilst my right hand and hook stay relitively still!

I know it looks awkward to most other crocheters and many have tried to show me how to crochet 'properly' but I just can't get it!!!! So I just go on looking awkward!

I knit a great deal too and have a similar knitting style....right hand anchors both needles at cross over point while left hand winds yarn, but both hands tend to manipulate the needles!

I think I 'made up' these methods because it was the only way my 6 year old brain could work out how to do what my right handed granny was doing when she taught me both skills!

I hold my crochet hook like a butter knife.
I couldn't see how holding it like a violin bow would work at all, I mean i used to play and how could you see your stitches when you are crocheting way up under your left chin anyway---i mean really???? Just kidding!

I'm comfortable and if you are comfortable go with what you know, but if you are not, now you know there are other ways to crochet.

-gobie

I hold my hook in a pencil hold with the hook facing down I can work up a pretty good speed this way. However, if I am crocheting something heavy and thick, I hold the hook like I would hold a pot handle.

I hold mine like a knife with the back half of the crochet hook held in my palm with my thumb and pointer finger on the flat part. It is the most comfortable for me this way. I figure it doesn't matter how you hold as long as the product turns out the way it is suppose to. However I notice that I do hold my yarn with my left handly different than most. I see people who stick out their pointer finger and control the yarn that way. However this does not work for me at all!! My left hand looks more like a fist i guess when I crochet with my pointer finger curled in the with yarn and let the yarn slide through the fold of my finger, its strange but I have better control.

I hold mine like a knife with the back half of the crochet hook held in my palm with my thumb and pointer finger on the flat part. It is the most comfortable for me this way. I figure it doesn't matter how you hold as long as the product turns out the way it is suppose to. However I notice that I do hold my yarn with my left handly different than most. I see people who stick out their pointer finger and control the yarn that way. However this does not work for me at all!! My left hand looks more like a fist i guess when I crochet with my pointer finger curled in the with yarn and let the yarn slide through the fold of my finger, its strange but I have better control.

I hold mine like a pencil with the hook facing me and I rotate it as I crochet. I have taught people both ways of holding the hook. It is just a personal preference/comfort issue.
Tena

I taught a class in my dorm in college. When Introducing holding the hook. I told everyone that the best way to hold it is so that it comfortable for you. If you are uncomfortable you will never build up any speed.

I'm a righty and Leona07 and I seem to have the same technique, even the way we control the yarn. Mom and Gramma showed me the "proper" way, using the pencil hold and wrapping the yarn around the left fingers, but it never felt comfortable.

Deanna

Hmmm...never gave it much thought. I guess I hold mine like a pencil. I prefer plastic hooks so I have more control over the yarn and I'm not sure what I do with my yarn finger. I can get going pretty fast when I'm in the "zone" though.

Interesting question. I hold mine like a pencil. My aunt taught me to crochet when I was very small, and I assume I tried to emulate her when I was learning. Like a lot have already said, though, I guess whatever's comfortable for each individual crocheter is the best way!! :)

I was told that I must be self-taught because of the way I hold my needle. Oh, well, that doesn't keep the projects from being completed.

Knit happy,
Vanessa